DOH records 492 Omicron variant cases on Wednesday

THE Department of Health (DOH) recorded on Wednesday additional of 492 Omicron (B.1.1.529) variant cases, of which, 332 were local cases, 115 Delta (B.1.617.2) variant cases, and one Alpha (B.1.1.7) in the latest batch of whole genome sequencing done last January 13-14, 2022.

There were two deaths, the first ever reported in the Philippines, among Omicron cases, according to DOH.

“There were two reported deaths among our Omicron cases. Both were detected during the latest whole genome sequencing. Both deaths were aged more than 60 years, unvaccinated, and had pre-existing medical conditions,” DOH said.

The DOH said that based on the report of the University of the Philippines-philippine Genome Center (UP-PGC), the University of the Philippines-national Institutes of Health (UP-NIH), and the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM), out of the 714 samples sequenced, 68.9 percent were Omicron, 16.1 percent were Delta, and 0.1 percent was Alpha.

ROF factor

THE 492 Omicron variant cases are composed of 332 local cases and 160 Returning Overseas Filipinos (ROFS).

Of the 332 local cases, the indicated addresses of the cases were from the National Capital Region with 227 cases, Calabarzon with 76 cases, Central Luzon with 11 cases, Central Visayas with five cases, while there were two cases each from Cagayan Valley, Western Visayas, Davao Region, Soccsksargen, and the Cordillera Administrative Region, and one case each from Ilocos Region, Mimaropa, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Based on the case line list, aside from two deaths, three cases are still active, 467 cases have been tagged as recovered, while there are 20 cases whose outcomes are still being verified.

While Omicron mostly presents with asymptomatic and mild disease, the DOH data shows that those most at risk for fatalities are still the elderly and those with comorbidities and are unvaccinated.

There are now 535 confirmed omicron variant cases in the country.

Delta

OF the additional 115 Delta variant cases, 88 were local cases and 27 were ROFS.

Based on the case line list, two cases are still active, two cases have died, and 107 have been tagged as recovered, while there are four cases whose outcomes are still being verified.

This update brings the total number of confirmed Delta variant cases to 8,612.

Alpha

AN additional local Alpha variant case has been tagged as recovered.

The total number of Alpha variant cases is now 3,170.

Follow health protocols

WITH the high transmissibility of the Omicron variant and the increasing number of Covid-19 cases, the DOH urged the public to follow protective health protocols and adhere to minimum public health standards.

The DOH said that new protocols based on science and data such as shortened intervals for booster shots, childhood vaccination, shortened quarantine/isolation periods for fully vaccinated health-care workers without symptoms, and targeted testing, among others, were put in place to mitigate the risks of the Omicron variant.

Likewise, the public is strongly encouraged to comply to ensure the safety and protection of the entire community.

Lastly, the department encourages all eligible individuals, especially senior citizens, those with comorbidities, and children to complete their primary series of vaccines and get their booster shots.

Getting vaccinated, the DOH stressed, is still the best line of defense when it comes to fighting and preventing severe and critical disease.

“Regardless of the variant, we must always keep our guards up against the enemy that is Covid-19,” DOH said.